Patient/Caregiver Profiles
Do you have patients struggling with agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease?
Patricia
lives with her
daughter at home
Patricia, 76, lives with her daughter and primary caregiver Rachel, and Rachel's familya
Current Presentation
- Alzheimer’s dementia (diagnosed 3 years ago); taking cholinesterase inhibitor
- Mini-Mental State Exam=21 (consistent with last visit)
Caregiver reported recent agitation symptoms
- Occasional screaming (aggressive)
- General restlessness (physically non-aggressive)
- Repeatedly asking for attention (verbally agitated)
“My mother is getting angry and frustrated more often. And now she’s restless, and even wandering. I'm at a loss for how to help her."
— Rachel, caregiver
aHypothetical patient and caregiver
Ronald, 82, is a long-term resident in a nursing home facilitya
Current Presentation
- Alzheimer’s dementia (diagnosed 5 years ago); receiving cholinesterase inhibitor and NMDA antagonist
- Mini-Mental State Exam=18 (consistent with last visit)
- Previous exam showed no history of UTI
Caregiver reported recent agitation symptoms
- Hurting oneself/others (aggressive)
- Repetitive mannerisms (physically non-aggressive)
- Constant requests for attention (verbally agitated)
NMDA, N-methyl-D-aspartate; UTI, urinary tract infection.
“My staff tells me that Ronald is disruptive and sometimes aggressive during activities, and repeated attempts at behavior modification haven’t worked."
— Director of Nursing
aHypothetical resident and caregiver